GUITARIST Tom McGuinness must have a happy dilemma. Just what to include when he is playing a concert.

There will be no such problem, however, when he takes to the stage for this year’s International Guitar Festival.

He returns as part of The Manfreds.

Wimbledon-born Tom first discovered two - then three chords on the guitar at the age of fourteen. He was inspired by Lonnie Donegan then discovered Little Richard and John Lee Hooker.

This guitar man never looked back.

Manfred Mann, the Manfreds and the Blues Band and McGuinness Flint are the various hit-makers on a musical CV which kicked off in 1963 playing in The Roosters alongside Eric Clapton.

"I always know where I am and who I am playing with and to," laughs Tom who was born in 1941.

This show in New Brighton is called The Manfreds Hits, Jazz and Blues Tour 2019.

And that, he points out, accurately sums up the evening.

He tells the Globe: "I am a great supporter of the International Guitar Festival.

"I remember when it was staged in the Pacific Road Arts Centre. I recall the great atmosphere there and the long-gone trams.

"The festival has gone from strength-to-strength. We are all happy to be coming to the Floral."

Tom is also a fan of New Brighton.

"It is another coastal seaside town facing challenges and from what I can see from recent visits it has really cracked it.

"I enjoy travelling everywhere by train - so that’s how I’ll be getting to Wirral.

So what can the audience expect from The Manfreds?

"We play R and B with an under current of jazz. There’s blues covers, some rare songs and B-sides."

As well as original Manfred Mann front-man Paul Jones on harmonica and vocals, guitarist Tom will be joined by a formidable line-up including: Mike Hugg (keyboards); Ron Townsend (drums); Marcus Cliffe (bass) and Simon Currie (sax and flute).

There will be plenty of famous hits to lap up including Do Wah Diddy - one of the best- received from their classic repertoire.

And he will feature two of his own greatest hits he released with McGuinness Flint called When I’m Dead and Gone and Malt and Barley Blues.

Tom says he has no intention of retiring besides being a musician is more like a hobby to him. He clocks up 100 gigs a year and in 2018 released a solo album called Second Glance.

He says: "The guitar is my first love. I love what I do - playing to people who want to come and see me and the bands us... and I get paid for it. How lucky is that?

"And to this day I can never walk past a guitar shop. I have to go in."

Away from music he has worked on television productions and radio shows and has also written a book called So You Want to be A Rock and Roll Star?

Tom recalls: "I was at a party and there happened to be a publisher there who was listening to me and he said ‘you should write a book.’

"I was in the right place at the right time - that’s the story of my life,’’ says modest Mr McGuinness.

The Manfreds on at The Floral Pavilion for International Guitar Festival on Saturday, June 1.

For tickets, call the box office on 0151 666 0000 or visit

https://www.floralpavilion.com/